Germany: Facebook Can Not Block User False Names

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A user in Germany complained when Facebook changed the pseudonym to their real name.

We all know that Facebook was particularly keen to ensure people used their real names on the service, but that seems to have been tempered a little to using the name they use in real life. So, you take a risk by signing up with a pseudonym, unless you can prove to Facebook that's what you're known as in real life.

Actors stage names, and their real names - they'd probably get away with it, but what about mere mortals? ;)

Facebook has been prevented from stopping users in Germany creating accounts under false names. The Hamburg data protection authority said the social network could not change people's chosen usernames or ask them to provide any official ID. Germany: Facebook Can Not Block User False Names [bbc.co.uk]

Facebook said it was disappointed with the ruling, which German courts had previously said met European law.

"The use of authentic names on Facebook protects people's privacy and safety by ensuring people know who they're sharing and connecting with," the company said.

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I've even seen people with odd real names (think hippy parents) who were forced to change their names on FB by this "real name policy" It cuts both ways unfortunately.

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I still see people with really weird names on FB. It's not just that they are weird names, I think they are playing FB to see how long it'll be before it catches them.

[bill]

There were also a bunch of native Americans who didn't have "traditional" Anglo Saxon names who were quite upset when they were told that their real names weren't 'real' in the eyes of Facebook. So, even that part of the policy backfired.